In a continued effort to bridge education with socio-economic development, Albukhary International University (AIU) welcomed a delegation from Lembaga Zakat Negeri Kedah (LZNK) for a strategic working visit on 6 October 2025, held at the AIU Library Meeting Room.
This high-level engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration between both institutions in areas that align with student development, community empowerment, and sustainable social transformation.
Building Pathways from Education to Empowerment
The meeting was led by Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd Saleh bin Jaafar, Vice Chancellor and President of AIU, and attended by key university officials. Representing LZNK were Dr. Mohd Faisal Mustafa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Operations), and Mr. Mohd Zaidi bin Azizan, Chief Executive of Collection.
The session served as a follow-up to earlier discussions held between AIU and LZNK, building upon their shared vision of nurturing human capital through education, training, and entrepreneurship. Both institutions emphasized the importance of collaboration in developing innovative programmes that support the asnaf (eligible zakat recipients) and underprivileged student communities.
Key Collaboration Initiatives Discussed
During the session, both sides explored multiple strategic initiatives, including:
- 🎓 Professional Certification Programmes — designed for zakat-sponsored students to enhance employability and professional readiness in the job market.
- 🏢 Process Improvement Projects — focused on streamlining LZNK operations through academic-industry collaboration with AIU’s business and computing experts.
- 💡 Entrepreneurship Development for Asnaf — creating pathways for financial independence, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods through business incubation and mentorship.
- 🌱 Leadership and Capacity Building — offering training for mid-level managers to enhance decision-making, communication, and organizational leadership skills.
These initiatives reflect AIU’s commitment to values-based education and LZNK’s mission to empower the asnaf community through sustainable and transformative projects.
A Shared Vision of Social Impact
The collaborative discussion was joined by several key university leaders, including:
- Prof. Dr. Hj. Mohamad Abdullah bin Hemdi, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)
- Mr. Abdul Shakur bin Abdullah, Deputy Registrar and Director, Centre for Corporate Planning and Communication
- Prof. Dr. Abdul Malek bin Abdul Karim, Dean, School of Education and Human Sciences (SEHS)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Basheer Riskhan, Dean, School of Computing and Informatics (SCI)
- Prof. Dr. Salfarina binti Abdul Gapor, Director, Centre for Research and Innovation Management (CRIM)
- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Suraya Hanim binti Mokhtar, Director, AIU Centre of Excellence for Socio-Economic Development and Innovation (ACE-SEDI)
- Mr. Abu Bakar bin Ngah, Director, Centre for Community and Industry Engagement (CCIE)
Their participation reflected a unified institutional commitment to transforming collaboration into measurable impact — particularly through education accessibility, skills development, and socio-economic empowerment within Kedah and beyond.
Quotes and Reflections
In his remarks, Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Mohd Saleh expressed appreciation for LZNK’s continuous engagement and reaffirmed AIU’s readiness to collaborate in impactful ways.
“Our goal is to ensure that education translates into empowerment. By combining AIU’s academic expertise with LZNK’s social outreach, we can create opportunities that truly change lives.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Mohd Faisal Mustafa from LZNK noted that the partnership is not merely about funding but about sustained development.
“We believe in empowering individuals with the tools, knowledge, and values that will enable them to uplift their families and communities in a lasting way.”
Towards a Sustainable Future
Both AIU and LZNK concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to refining these initiatives into structured, outcome-driven programmes that contribute to the nation’s social development agenda.
This partnership exemplifies how universities and zakat institutions can work hand-in-hand to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas of quality education (SDG 4), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reduced inequalities (SDG 10).
Through this collaboration, AIU continues to uphold its mission of cultivating compassionate, socially responsible graduates who contribute to the development of equitable and sustainable societies.
